The US Federal Drug Administration is aiming to cut the time-to-market and the development costs for new drugs. This will help drive the market for biologics — where over 1,000 drugs are currently under development — to 9.6% year-on-year growth from its recent rate of 5.4%.

According to a new report from Irish research company GMR Data, the global healthcare packaging market will grow to $262bn by 2028, rising from $117.2bn across 2018.

The increasing demand for biologics, patent expiry of blockbuster molecules, and a limited number of potential products in the pipeline have driven companies to adopt new technologies such as single-use bioprocessing technologies which are cost-effective and enable the quick turnaround of products.

Although we still do not know the specific causes of autism, we do know one thing. The rate is increasing, and the market for treatment is growing.

Based on new government data, 1 in 45 children in the United States, aged 3-17, have autism. This is up from only 1 in 150 children back in 2000.

Orphan disease, by definition, is “any disease that affects a small percentage of the general population.” These diseases are often life-threatening, chronic, progressive, degenerative, and disabling, while most of them are linked to a genetic disorder and remain undiagnosed.

The U.S. weight loss market is estimated to be worth $68.2 billion in 2017—a 2.7% gain, and growth should continue into 2018, when the market is expected to post a better gain of 3.2% to $70 billion.

Continued high rates of obesity and overweight, coupled with low unemployment and higher disposable income, are boosting the market. However, performance will vary significantly by individual market segment.

The past few decades have witnessed several blockbuster drug performances in the pharma industry, changing the face of the industry as well as completely transforming the fate of many companies and stakeholders. The success of these drugs justifies the rigorous process of development, which is tough and economically draining.

The strong growth of the pharma market in China makes it attractive for international investors, according to the recent Pharmaceutical Drugs Market Global Report 2017 by The Business Research Company (TBRC).

In 2016, the pharmaceuticals market in China was valued at $155 billion, which was half the size of the market in the USA. TBRC projects the market to grow at the fast pace of 10% in the period from 2016 to 2020, which is the fastest among the countries presented in the report. Such strong growth can be explained by an aging population and busy lifestyles leading to increased numbers of cases of diabetes and cancer.

In a recent survey of nearly 100 pharmaceutical and life science market research executives conducted by my company InCrowd, 80% identified their respective brand as being in a volatile market, characterized by disruption and uncertainty.

Asia is one of the leading destinations for health tourism. Countries such as India, China, Malaysia, and Thailand are witnessing large numbers of medical tourists due to cheaper treatment costs and high-quality healthcare services. In 2016, Indians and Chinese spent around $68 and $431 per head respectively on medical treatment while Americans spent at least 19 times more. This is one of the key themes explored in The Business Research Company’s recent Healthcare Market Global Report 2017.